Hinge latch

ABSTRACT

A hinge latch for attachment of a door to a cabinet including a pair of hinge parts mounted one on each of the door and cabinet and joined by a hinge pin, a strike carried on one of the hinge parts, and a resiliently biased keeper movably mounted within a keeper mounting assembly carried on the other of the hinge parts; the keeper cooperating with the strike to latch the door in closed position. The keeper is formed of a plastic material and characterized by a construction including a head portion shaped to define a generally wedge-shaped cam surface engageable by said strike, and secured in assembled relation within the keeper mounting assembly by a pin insert.

United States Patent Little 1 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] HINGE LATCH 3,496,595 2/1970 Larson ..16/186 72 I I I C In. L'itl J I N.Y. 1 nve n or at l 8 arms own Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Asslgneei pp p y, Assistant Examiner-Doris L. Troutman Jamestown, AttorneyBean & Bean 22 Fl (12 A 11, 1 70 1 e 9 57 ABSTRACT 21 Appl. No.: 62,787

Related US. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 2,150, Jan. 12, 1 970.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1881 Hartetal ..16/144 A hinge latch for attachment of a door to a cabinet including a pair of hinge parts mounted one on each of the door and cabinet and joined by a hinge pin, a strike carried on one of the hinge parts, and a resiliently biased keeper movably mounted within a keeper mounting assembly carried on the other of the hinge parts; the keeper cooperating with the strike to latch the door in closed position. The keeper is formed of a plastic material and characterized by a construction including a head portion shaped to define a generally wedge-shaped cam surface engageable by said strike, and secured in assembled relation within the keeper mounting assembly by a pin insert.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures HINGE LATCH This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 2,150 filed Jan. 12, 1970.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a hinge latch of the type disclosed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 2,150, filed Jan. 12, 1970, which is adapted to perform the dual functions of hingedly supporting a door on a cabinet or the like and latching same in closed position.

The present hinge latch includes a pair of hinge parts, which are adapted to be mounted one on each of the door and cabinet; a strike carried by one of the hinge parts; and an integrally formed plastic keeper movable within a keeper mounting assembly carried by the other hinge part. Each of the hinge parts include mounting flanges and cooperating bearing flanges aper tured to receive a common hinge part; the strike and keeper mounting assembly being formed integrally with the respective hinge parts. The keeper mounting assembly includes a pair of parallel guide flanges apertured to receive head and spindle portions of the keeper; the keeper head portion being biased in a direction outwardly through its guide flange by spring means arranged intermediate the head and the guide flange defining the spindle guide aperture. The keeper is secured in assembled relation within the keeper mounting assembly by a pin insert engageable with the keeper head portion guide flange.

The strike-keeper arrangement tends to prevent slamming of the door, while permitting the door when swung to a desired point to be self closing without bounceback or accidental opening. Also, it is a feature of this invention that the latch is operable through only a small degree of door swing, thus permitting the door to stand substantially in any desired open position.

DRAWINGS The nature and mode of operation of the present in vention will be more fully described in the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of a cabinet and door embodying a hinge constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 3-3a are fragmentary top plan views of the door illustrating the arrangement of parts as the door is moved progressively toward a fully closed position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3a;

FIG. 5 is sectional view taken generally along the line 55 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Now referring to the drawings, and more particularly FIG. 1, the hinge according to the present invention is generally designated as 1 and shown as mounting door 2 on a cabinet 3. Cabinet 3 is shown for purposes of reference as including side walls 5, a hinge frame member or stile 6 and a door stop frame member or stile 7. For purposes of reference, frame members 6, 7

are shown as having forwardly facing finished surfaces 6a, 7a, and facing surfaces 6b, 7b, which cooperate to define the cabinet opening to be closed by door 2.

Door 2 may be provided along one or more marginal edges thereof with a recess 8 to facilitate gripping of the door by a user for the purpose of opening same, and, if desired, one or the other of frame member 7 and door 2 may be provided with a suitable door stop or bumper 9, as is well known. Alternatively, opening of the door may be facilitated by the provision of a suitable door mounted pull, not shown.

Hinge l is shown particularly in FIG. 2 as including a pair of generally L-shaped hinge parts 10 and 11 defined by mounting flange portions 12, 13 and bearing flange portions 14, 15, respectively; a strike 16; and keeper 17, which is movable within a keeper mounting assembly 19. Preferably, strike 16 and assembly 19 are formed integrally with mounting flange portions 12 and 13, respectively.

I-Iinge parts 10 and 11 are hingedly interconnected by a hinge pin 21, which is receivable within apertures 22, 23 provided in bearing flange portions 14 and 15, respectively, and is adapted to have its ends peened to retain the hinge parts in a stacked relationship. Preferably, a friction reducing bearing washer 25 is carried by hinge pin 21 intermediate facing surfaces of bearing flange portions 14, 15 in order to facilitate relative pivotal movement therebetween within substantial parallel planes.

While hinge parts 10 and 11 may with slight design changes be alternatively mounted on the door and frame, they are shown in the drawing for purposes of reference as being mounted on the rearwardly facing surface of door 2 and the forwardly facing surface 6a of frame member 6, respectively, as by screws 26 and 27, which are receivable within apertures 28 and 29 provided in mounting flange portions 12 and 13. Mounting of hinge l on door 2 is facilitated by forming the door with a rear surface-side edge surface opening slot 32, which is of sufficient thickness and depth to' permit free pivotal movement between the hinge parts when assembled by hinge pin 21.

Strike 16 is in the form of a blade, which is arranged at an an angle a of between about and with respect to mounting flange l2, and formed with a downwardly facing, generally V-shaped cam surface 36 defined by first and second cam surface portions 36a and 36b, and an intermediate rounded apex surface portion 36c.

Keeper 17 is best shown in FIGS. 2-6 as being of one piece molded plastic construction and as generally including a head portion 39 and a cylindrical spindle portion 41. Head portion 39 is formed with a guide rib portion 39a projecting laterally from adjacent its lower end; and enlarged upper end portion 39b; and bore opening 39c, which is arranged vertically intermediate portions 39a, 39b and adapted to smugly receive an anchoring pin 42. End portion 39b defines an upwardly facing, generally wedge-shaped cam follower surface 43 having forwardly extending relatively expansive convex surface portion 44a, a rearwardly extending planar surface portion 44b and an intermediate rounded apex portion 45, which is vertically centered relative to the head and spindle portions, as best seen in FIG. 4.

If desired, strike 16 and keeper 17 may be inverted relative to their positions shown in FIGS. 1-6 by modifying hinge parts and 11 to permit hinge part 11 to be placed vertically above hinge part it).

Keeper mounting assembly 19 includes a generally U-shaped flange defined by intermediate guide flange 57a and parallel upper and lower guide flanges 57b, 57c, respectively. Intermediate guide flange 57a is formed integrally with mounting flange 13, and the upper and lower guide flanges 57b, 570 are provided with apertures 59, 61, which are adapted to slideably receive keeper head 39 and spindle 41, respectively. By referring to FIG. 6, it will be understood that flanges 57b, 570, which abut against frame member surface 6b, cooperate with mounting flange 13 to orient hinge 1 on hinge frame member 6, and the assembly 19, as a whole cooperates with mounting flange 13 to conceal keeper 17, except for cam follower surface 43 and the lower extent of spindle 41.

Keeper 17 may be assembled within mounting assembly 19 by positioning a coil type compression spring 65 intermediate flanges 57b, 57c; inserting spindle 41 downwardly through upper flange aperture 59, spring 65 and into lower flange aperture 61; and thereafter inserting anchoring pin 42 into bore opening 39c. During assembly of keeper 17 spring 65 is compressed between head portion 39 and lower guide flange 57c, and thereafter serves to normally bias the keeper into its full line extended position shown in FIG. 4, which is determined by engagement of anchoring pin 42 with an inner wall portion of assembly 19, such as the lower surface of flange 57b. It will be noted that when keeper 17 is assembled cam surface 44a extends in overlying relationship relative to upper guide flange 57b forwardly toward mounting flange 13 and laterally towards intermediate guide flange 57a.

It will be understood that when door 2 is in an open position, such as is illustrated in FIG. 3, in order to afford access to the interior of cabinet 3, keeper 17 is in its normal full line position, shown in FIG. 4, and hinge parts 10 and 11 permitted to move freely with respect to each other. When door 2 is swung towards its closed position, illustrated in FIG. 1, strike cam surface 36a is initially brought into sliding surface contact with keeper cam surface 44a, as indicated in FIGS. 3a and 4, so as to initiate downward movement of keeper 17 within assembly 19 and compression of spring 65. Continued closing movement of door 2 positions strike apex portion 360 in overlying relationship with keeper apex portion 45, so as to move keeper 17 into its full downward position, illustrated in phantom line in FIG. 5. The energy absorbed by compression spring 65 upon deformation thereof increases the force necessary to effect closing of the door, and thus tends to reduce the likelihood of the door being slammed, should too much closing force be exerted by a user. Upon continued movement of door 2 into its fully closed position, strike apex portion 360 moves beyond keeper apex portion 45, so as to permit the energy previously absorbed by compression spring 265 to force keeper apex portion 45 upwardly against strike cam surface 36b.

By referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be understood that when door 2 is in its fully closed position, as determined by door stop 9, anchoring pin 42 is spaced vertically below flange 57b. Thus, keeper 17 tends to cam the door beyond its fully closed position in order to prevent rattling thereof.

As will be apparent from the drawings, edges 59a and 59b of upper flange aperture 59 cooperate to guide keeper head 39 for reciprocation when the door is closed, whereas edge 59c of upper flange aperture 59 and intermediate flange 570, which is engaged by head guide rib 39a cooperate to guide keeper head 39 for reciprocation when the door is opened.

It will be noted that during the thus described closing movement of door 2, strike 16 wipes over and lengthwise of keeper cam surface portion 440 and apex portion 45 along the path indicated by broken line in FIG. 3. Thus, strike 16 is arranged at an acute angle with respect to keeper apex portion 45, when the strike is disposed in the door open and door closed positions shown in full line in FIGS. 3a, 4 and l, 5, respectively; whereas it is arranged at an angle of approximately with respect to apex portion 45 when in the phantom line position shown in FIG. 5, due to the positioning of strike 16 at an angle a with respect to door mounting flange 12. It will be understood that by this arrangement a substantially greater extent of the surface of keeper cam surface 44a and apex portion 45 is wiped by the strike, than would be the case if path 70 were arranged at a 90 angle with respect to keeper apex portion 45. For any given inclination or slope of cam surfaces 36a and 36b, the above orientation of the strike and the relative expansion design of keeper cam surface 44a permits the keeper to be effective for latching purposes over a greater extent of door swing. Moreover, the smoothly curved contour of keeper cam surface 44a permits a very gradual compression of spring 65 and thus assures smooth and effortless door closings.

By constructing the hinge latch of the present invention in the manner described, there is provided a self contained unit, which may be easily assembled to provide a simple low cost hinge and latch combination.

I claim:

1. A hinge latch for attachment of a door to a cabinet comprising in combination:

a pair of hinge parts mounted one on each of said door and cabinet;

a hinge pin joining said hinge parts for movement about a vertically disposed pivot axis;

a strike carried on one of said hinge parts, said strike having a generally V-shaped cam surface defined by first and second cam surface portions and an intermediate rounded apex surface portion;

a keeper, said keeper having a cam surface adapted to cooperate with said strike to latch said door in closed position, said keeper cam surface being of a generally wedge-shaped configuration and inverted relative to said strike cam surface, said keeper cam surface including an apex portion and a convex surface portion arranged adjacent to said apex portion;

a keeper mounting assembly carried on the other of said hinge parts for mounting said keeper for reciprocating movements parallel to said pivot axis, said assembly defining an opening through which said keeper projects in order to position said keeper carn surface outwardly of said assembly for cooperation with said strike, said keeper cam surface being arranged relative to said strike cam surface whereby said keeper convex surface portion is successively engaged by said strike first cam surface portion and apex surface portion and thereafter said keeper apex portion is successively engaged by said strike apex surface portion and second cam surface portion along a line disposed at an angle of less than about 90 with respect to a line drawn lengthwise of said keeper apex portion as said door is moved towards a closed position thereof thereby to reciprocate said keeper with respect to said assembly;

anchoring means adapted to engage with said assembly for mounting said keeper within said assembly; and

spring means cooperating with said assembly to normally bias said anchoring means into contact with said assembly such that said keeper cam surface is disposed outwardly of said assembly.

2. A hinge latch according to claim 1, wherein said assembly includes spaced flange members, a first of said flange members defining said opening and a second of said flange members defining a guide aperture disposed in alignment with said opening, and said keeper includes a head portion and a spindle portion formed integrally with and depending from said head portion, said head portion defining said keeper cam surface and being slideably received within said opening, said opening and said head portion being of noncircular configuration whereby to prevent rotations of said head portions within said opening, said spindle portion being slideably received within said guide aperture, said spring means being a coil spring disposed about said spindle portion intermediate said head portion and said second flange member, and said anchoring means is a pin carried by said head portion for engagement with said first flange member.

3. A hinge latch according to claim 2, wherein said head portion is enlarged outwardly of said opening such that at least said convex surface portion extends in an overlying relationship relative to said first flange member. 

1. A hinge latch for attachment of a door to a cabinet comprising in combination: a pair of hinge parts mounted one on each of said door and cabinet; a hinge pin joining said hinge parts for movement about a vertically disposed pivot axis; a strike carried on one of said hinge parts, said strike having a generally V-shaped cam surface defined by first and second cam surface portions and an intermediate rounded apex surface portion; a keeper, said keeper having a cam surface adapted to cooperate with said strike to latch said door in closed position, said keeper cam surface being of a generally wedge-shaped configuration and inverted relative to said strike cam surface, said keeper cam surface including an apex portion and a convex surface portion arranged adjacent to said apex portion; a keeper mounting assembly carried on the other of said hinge parts for mounting said keeper for reciprocating movements parallel to said pivot axis, said assembly defining an opening through which said keeper projects in order to position said keeper cam surface outwardly of said assembly for cooperation with said strike, said keeper cam surface being arranged relative to said strike cam surface whereby said keeper convex surface portion is successively engaged by said strike first cam surface portion and apex surface portion and thereafter said keeper apex portion is successively engaged by said strike apex surface portion and second cam surface portion along a line disposed at an angle of less than about 90* with respect to a line drawn lengthwise of said keeper apex portion as said door is moved towards a closed position thereof thereby to reciprocate said keeper with respect to said assembly; anchoring means adapted to engage with said assembly for mounting said keeper within said assembly; and spring means cooperating with said assembly to normally bias said anchoring means into contact with said assembly such that said keeper cam surface is disposed outwardly of said assembly.
 2. A hinge latch according to claim 1, wherein said assembly includes spaced flange members, a first of said flange members defining said opening and a second of said flange members defining a guide aperture disposed in alignment with said opening, and said keeper includes a head portion and a spindle portion formed integrally with and depending from said head portion, said head portion defining said keeper cam surface and being slideably received within said opening, said opening and said head portion being of non-circular configuration whereby to prevent rotations of said head portions within said opening, said spindle portion being slideably received within said guide aperture, said spring means being a coil spring disposed about said spindLe portion intermediate said head portion and said second flange member, and said anchoring means is a pin carried by said head portion for engagement with said first flange member.
 3. A hinge latch according to claim 2, wherein said head portion is enlarged outwardly of said opening such that at least said convex surface portion extends in an overlying relationship relative to said first flange member. 